Interviews

The Michelle Stafford Interview – The Young and the Restless

Photo Credit: Denice Duff

On The Young and the Restless, Phyllis Summers Newman has dealt with many an issue and conquered many a problem head on over the years, or in some cases, been pretty sneaky in the way she went about it. But nothing has prepared her for this latest familial drama! In recent months, on the number one CBS soap, the powers-that-be have been delving into the background of Phyllis’ family with the introduction of her sister, Avery, and with a return now of her dear old dad George, who Phyllis has no love lost. (And that’s putting it mildly.) The corrupt and nefarious father figure is now on his deathbed at a hospice center, and Phyllis decides she will try to go see him to get some resolution to her tormented past due to her father’s misdeeds. When she arrives, he insists to his daughter that she falsely accused him of stealing money from his investors, and of his crimes. However, Phyllis demands the truth, and things take a dramatic turn from there!

On-Air On-Soaps chatted with Daytime Award wining actress Michelle Stafford, to get her take on Phyllis’s daddy issues, the expansion of her on-screen family, and of course, the men in Phyllis’ life. Will we finally have that “Phick” reunion that many Y&R fans are longing for? Michelle fills us in! Plus, she reveals what it has been like to work with Jessica Collins (Avery), Ken Howard (George), Joshua Morrow (Nick), and one of her new favorite co-stars, Jeff Branson (Ronan), who unfortunately has left the show!

Michelle, who is never one to mince words, cuts right to the heart of the matter on a myriad of subjects during our chat. But one thing is for certain; this gal knows and understands how to act! Through performance after performance, no one could refute that Michelle Stafford continues to be an acting force to be reckoned with, which always leaves daytime fans clamoring for. Who can’t wait to see how Michelle serves up the delicious on-screen life of Ms. Newman every day? We can’t! So, here is our conversation with the one and only Michelle!

MICHAEL:

All of a sudden members of Phyllis’s family are sprouting up. First up was her sister Avery. And now with this recent storyline, Y&R is bringing back up the sins of the father, with Phyllis and Avery’s dad George, in the picture for just a brief time. How is it for you as an established character when they bring in more of your family clan? (Although, we have seen the character of George before on Y&R!)

MICHELLE:

Photo Credit: Getty images

When they bring in a family member, I am always like, “Oh no,” for a second. I get nervous, because I already created something for myself. They actually created something that goes against something we had already played, and so we had to kind of do some shifting. We have already seen the character of George, her father, and she had already had conversations with him, and we already had seen her mother, Lydia.

MICHAEL:

How was working with Ken Howard as your dad, in these pivotal scenes?

MICHELLE:

He is great, and as you know he is an Emmy and Tony Award winning actor!

MICHAEL:

… And he is the President of SAG!

MICHELLE:

And the President of SAG … and I talked to him about my insurance! (Laughs) We had a good conversation about my insurance. (Laughs) Ken had a great attitude and he is a great guy. He knew he was there to serve a purpose for the story and he did that. He knew the character was dying. I actually wished we were playing lighter scenes! We laughed a lot, and you know I can get people going! (Laughs) He was awesome, though.

MICHAEL:

In story, Phyllis did not want to go see her dad in the hospice facility, even though he may not make it. Why didn’t she want to go and try to make peace with him?

MICHELLE:

Photo Credit: Kathie Hutchins

He is an asshole! Why do you want to go see an ass? He iced her from the family. He is a criminal, and then turned it around and made it look like Phyllis was lying. He made her the crazy one, and so she left!

MICHAEL:

Do you think this huge issue with her father is what made Phyllis such a damaged person? She has shown great resiliency in her life, but she has also done some very bad and questionable things along the way.

MICHELLE:

I think every soap opera character is pretty damaged. (Laughs) There is not anybody who is not. I think Phyllis is looking for something she decided must exist in life that maybe doesn’t. She is looking for something she never had, which is a family unit and real love. She is looking for that and she is thinking that it should be a certain way, because it is not what she had. In truth, that thing that she is looking for might not even exist. But she is trying to find it.

MICHAEL:

Do you think because of her relationship with her father, this has been a cause of many of the issues Phyllis has with the men in her life?

MICHELLE:

I would say that makes some sense. I would say she is looking for them to be something she never had. That is why I say it may not exist, because she is looking for something that she decided must be, because she did not have it. I will tell you a personal story. Years ago, I had a lot of friends who were married. I saw the loveliness of their relationships and how their husbands would do all these things. I thought, “Wow! The boyfriend I had at the time doesn’t do those things, so he must be a prick.” I would end the relationship to find out that they had the same issues in their relationships, but they weren’t letting me see it. Those kind of relationships that all of us “chicks” look for only exists in movies and TV, really. In reality, there are differences in life and people have differences, and the key is how you make it work. Things don’t just magically work. You are making compromises, and that is why relationships work.

MICHAEL:

There was a recent scene between you and Joshua Morrow (Nick) at the Crimson Lights Coffee Shop. It was just a simple little exchange between the two characters, but you could tell they still really love each other!

Courtesy/CBS

MICHELLE:

Yeah, they do, but I hated that scene! (Laughs) He gave me the peace sign, is what he did. As Phyllis in the scene, I was going, “What are you giving me the peace sign for?” So I gave it back to him and I kind of made a face like, “What the hell is that?” Look in relationships and in your marriage a guy will go, “Hey Dude”. Dude? So, it was kind of a real moment, but Phyllis’s reaction to it was, “What? What is this?” But, Phyllis and Nick do love each other.

MICHAEL:

Why can’t these two get it together?

MICHELLE:

I think because she can’t really trust him and because he has given her reason not to trust him. Also, I don’t think he trusts him! (Laughs) I think Nick knows he can be a dog. He is trying to win her back but she is not really going for it. Nick is trying and he has his own issues and own demons where women are concerned, and where Sharon and where Avery are concerned, too.

MICHAEL:

I cannot believe that Phyllis would ever go back now to Nick after sleeping with her sister, Avery! And then of course, there is the whole Sharon debacle!

MICHELLE:

Yeah, I know. The cool thing is they are not having them jump back in together. They realize we can’t have Phyllis this desperate for his love, although she is kind of desperate for his love, she really is. She is not Zen when it comes to him or level headed when it comes to him. It’s all based on emotion, her love for Nick. She really, really loves him. He really cares for her and he brings out a part of her that is seldom seen by others. He sees her sweetness and a love that is a true part of her.

Photo Credit: Kathie Hutchins

MICHAEL:

She has been vulnerable with Nick, and that has been hard on her. Would you say she was vulnerable with Jack?

MICHELLE:

With Jack she did, and she didn’t. He saw the tough Phyllis, and so she had to be kind of tough with him in the later years. She always felt she was trying to one-up Jack, and she does not feel that way with Nick. It’s a different relationship, although her relationship with Jack is very solid and beautiful, too. She was in love with him, but there is just too much water under the bridge there.

MICHAEL:

I like how Phyllis visited Jack in the hospital the other day, since he is dealing with being paralyzed. She seemed to care for him and be there to support him.

MICHELLE:

She is a good person for him when he is in trouble. She will be tough for him. He will be falling apart and she will be there, and that is their relationship. Jack would do the same for her.

MICHAEL:

How was working with Jeff Branson (Ronan)? The sparks really flew on-air with Ronan and Phyllis. I think that’s putting it mildly! (Laughs)

MICHELLE:

Courtesy/IMDB

I love Jeff Branson so much, I cannot even tell you. I really loved working with him! You know those scenes where we were making out and we were naked together, sometimes the guys can be pricky, although in my case I have never had that. Joshua and Peter have always been gentlemen, but it can be an awkward situation for a woman, but it’s not awkward for me because I love to make out … seriously. It can be weird when someone shuts himself off. I am talking about when you are so naked with someone and so emotionally naked with somebody, they will put up some walls. And that is normal; a lot of actors will put up walls. It’s like, “Don’t get too close.” Jeff and I did not do that with each other. We talked about it before, and other actors do that, because they either have a wife at home or a girlfriend or a boyfriend, and they will get flack from them. Or personally, they will feel awkward. So they will put up some walls. I said to Jeff, “Let’s not do that. Let’s be totally enveloped in this thing that we have together. Let’s just trust each other.” I am not thinking, “You are going to make a move on me.” We knew that we were not going to do that with each other and it was going to be a very open and vulnerable working situation where we trusted each other as actors. It was really great. It was so much fun, and that is what acting is about.

MICHAEL:

So you were aware that viewers thought it looked like you and Jeff were really going at it on air?

MICHELLE:

A lot of people thought we were banging each other. They told me that! I know it looked like I was banging Jeff. I could see where people would think that because we were so open with each other. A couple of fans said, “It’s so real. I feel like I am watching you, too.” And basically, they were watching us. And that is the beauty and the cool thing about acting. It’s just being so trusting to be there with that person and make it real and make it truthful. And so, I loved, loved working with him.

MICHAEL:

Do you think Ronan and Phyllis would have been a good couple, if it could have lasted longer?

MICHELLE:

Yeah, I think they were a good couple. Ronan was really special to Phyllis because he treated her well. Nick was bad to her, and she really was falling in love with Ronan and then he ended things with her so abruptly, but she did not believe him. She felt like he was just doing that to not get close, and because she was falling for him, she understood. At the end, she knew what he was doing. I thought it would have been a really great triangle, but Jeff left the show. I was bummed out that it was going to end, but Jeff wants to do film and I love him as a friend. So I support anything he wants to do. I think he is a really great actor. I want really great things to happen for him.

MICHAEL:

Photo Credit: Kathie Hutchins

What do you think about the sister rivalry between Phyllis and Avery?

MICHELLE:

Jessica Collins and I are still working it out. It’s interesting the relationship between the two sisters. We had some scenes we taped recently where we wanted to make it a very complex and odd relationship, and even the scenes where we are at the facility with the dad at the end of the story arc are really interesting. What I like about those scenes, and how they play out, is that nothing has been resolved. Phyllis went there for some sort of answer to her life, and some sort of resolution for her life and nothing is resolved. I think that is really cool. I think it is very real. I don’t think that is necessarily what the writers were going for, but I think that’s what turned out. I think the group of writers we have are very cool. They are not militant. It’s not like “No, this is my writing; you have to say it like this.” They are always in to seeing how something works out. There is a bit of a soft spot that Phyllis feels for Avery after their father dies, but I think we are going to see this kind of go away and it’s going to go back and forth. Phyllis is actually going to have a soft spot for her, because it’s her own guilt for not being there for her sister, and leaving her with those freaks! She has her own guilt, and at the same time, Avery, does things to her that are wrong!

MICHAEL:

Really wrong!

MICHELLE:

It also reminds her of her parents. Avery is just kind of a symbol to Phyllis of her horrible parents. Every time Avery talks, Phyllis just hears her dad.

MICHAEL:

How is working with Jessica Collins?

MICHELLE:

Photo Credit: PR Photo

Jessica is amazing. She is so professional and so great. She is so willing to work scenes out. We had this scene in the prison and it went on for a long time. It was an eight or ten minute scene. So we worked on deciding what is really going on in the scene besides our dialog. We will sit down and work it out. We talk about what we are to each other and the relationship. Again, it’s nice that someone is willing in a female/female relationship, to be there for each other emotionally, and asking, “What do you need?” Let me tell you, Jessica is so great and amazing in these scenes coming up with the dad.

MICHAEL:

Do you think Phyllis is resentful of Avery in that she became a lawyer, while Phyllis had bounced around a bit to find herself and a career?

MICHELLE:

Yeah, I think Phyllis is jealous. In this scene where they are talking inside their father’s room, at one point the nurse comes out and says, “Avery, you should come in now.” It was so great, because I was thinking as Phyllis, “What the hell? Why Avery? Why not me?” I thought it was an interesting element. So in the scene, I am a bit disturbed by why that bitch just came out and said, “Avery!” I think Phyllis is resentful that Avery was the golden child and is like, “Why am I the bad one, because I had some integrity?” Avery was the untouched little sister that did not have to see any of the evil of this family. I think there is a resentment that Phyllis had, because Avery didn’t have to see it. And Phyllis is like, “Why did I have to see it and she didn’t have to?” I think it’s more like Phyllis had to see this with these people and Avery got to live a life of ignorance. There is jealousy of; why did I not get to live a life with rose-colored glasses?

MICHAEL:

Phyllis definitely came from the school of hard knocks, after all the things she went through growing up with her dysfunctional family.

MICHELLE:

Right! Phyllis leaves and is like a street person, and Avery becomes this big attorney. I feel that Phyllis is jealous of that and Avery’s life. That is something that is untouched in the writing, but it is something Jessica and I have created. Jessica is just a complete doll. I don’t feel any weird “chick” dynamic with her.

MICHAEL:

We touched earlier on Y&R bringing in family members to beef up Phyllis’s on-air story or back-story. What did you feel when Jessica came on the show as your sister?

Photo Credit: Denice Duff

MICHELLE:

If they bring in a good actor, it’s great. And Jessica is a great actor, and so it only aids the long-standing character. It only aids it unless they stop writing for my character and start writing everything for her character. Then I will be like, “Hey, what is going on here?” (Laughs) We had a long talk about the ebb and flow of our characters now. We created something interesting and I don’t know how it will play out. It’s fun to work with someone who really cares, and with another woman where I don’t have to avoid slings and arrows! (Laughs)

MICHAEL:

Deep down, would you say the two sisters love each other, or would you not go that far?

MICHELLE:

Yes, they do love each other because they are sisters and there is that family bond.

MICHAEL:

Did you have any hand in the casting of Jessica as your on-screen sis? I remember Jessica as Dinah Lee on Loving decades ago! She was terrific.

Where would you like to see Phyllis go now? What would you like to see happen to her as a result of all that she has recently endured?

MICHELLE:

Photo Credit: Steven Bergman

I believe we need to see Phyllis unravel a bit. There has been a lot lately with Lucy and the Daisy thing, and Avery releasing Daisy from Prison, and Nick and his shenanigans with Sharon and Avery, and then the father dying. I think that does affect her. I think all of this is too much for her and I think we need to see her snap a bit.

MICHAEL:

I would love to see that!

MICHELLE:

I am trying to work that out! But as an actor, you can actually weave that in to the writing. I don’t have to go and pitch it to them, and it serves a purpose.

MICHAEL:

Do you think that we are over with Sharon being a constant issue and thorn in Phyllis’ side? They seem to have gotten away from that for a bit, but I suppose it could rear its head at any moment!

MICHELLE:

I don’t know. I want to say probably not, because Sharon was married to Nick and it’s an ex-wife of Nick’s. If she was connected to Nick, she will be connected to Sharon in someway, but I think if we do see that again, it needs to be different. As actors we need to play it differently and they need to write it differently, because the audience does not want to see the same thing.

MICHAEL:

As a Daytime Emmy winner, and one who always supports her fellow actors, how are you feeling about the new Daytime Emmy pre-nomination process? Do you think on paper, this system seems a fairer way to conduct the first round of voting?

MICHELLE:

Honestly, no system makes perfect sense. It’s an award and there are some people who are always going to think it’s unfair. I will say, it’s the fairest thing in the world when you get nominated, and it’s the fairest thing in the world when you win, but when you don’t get nominated, it’s so unfair, it’s so unfair. I mean, really. It’s the greatest night in the world when you win, but it’s not so fun when you lose. That’s just the bottom line.

MICHAEL:

Courtesy/CBS

Many actors feel that entering their name in competition for the Daytime Emmys is like playing a big game and trying to play it to win. But so many talented performers have never won or have never had the opportunity to be nominated!

MICHELLE:

Just because somebody has three Emmys and somebody else has zero, in my eyes, it does not make that person a better actor. It also doesn’t make the person who won, necessarily work a lot, or get a lot of storylines. I judge and I don’t always pick the person who won. It’s the way it is. Melody Thomas Scott (Nikki, Y&R) and Eileen Davidson (Ashley, Y&R) have zero. It’s silly.

MICHAEL:

You just recently received the Media Awareness Award from a wonderful organization, Project Cuddle! I saw a picture with you and John Stamos from the event!

MICHELLE:

Yes, I did receive an award because of my work with the organization. John Stamos is the National Spokesman for Project Cuddle. Debbie Magnusen saves abandoned babies and I have been working with her for five years. She is a wonderful person. She started a hotline where if you want to abandon your baby, and don’t want it, she will take the baby no questions asked, and find a home for it. And also, if you are having problems, and a lot of people cannot afford pre-natal care, she takes them in and gives them care while they are pregnant and then finds a home for their baby when they have it. I have been working with her to help her get the project known for the last several years.

MICHAEL:

Congrats on that, and how was the night for you? I saw you brought your posse with you, too! (Laughs)

Photo Credit: Kathie Hutchins

MICHELLE:

It was a dinner and we fundraised. Christian LeBlanc (Michael, Y&R) came and Patty Denny, the Y&R make-up artist, and George Guzman, my friend Stacy Francis came who used to be on X-Factor, and some friends of hers. Shannon Krause who does hair also came and I had my little entourage. It was so awesome.

MICHAEL:

In closing, the scenes we will see play out on Monday’s upcoming episode, how do you think they turned out when all was said and done?

MICHELLE:

I never like judging myself, or will say, “I hit a home run.” I will say, I thought Jessica was amazing because her whole world as Avery unravels before her eyes finding out her father was a liar. I would definitely tune in to see how it all plays out though!

Hey, Michael. Michelle is one gorgeous woman, plus being an outstanding actor. I loved her with Ronan. They were so hot! Too bad he left the show. I also like that Michelle is outspoken and tell it like it is. I thought she was excellant in trying to get her father to tell the truth about what nasty things he did way back that caused her to leave the family. Friday , after badgering him, she finally got him to tell the truth about money he stole. And with Avery hearing that, it should make a difference in their relationship. It will be interesting to see how that plays out. Good interview once again, Michael. I am looking forward to Monday’s episode….

Thanks Michael for the interview with Michelle, I am impressed as always by her honesty. She truly is one of the best actress on daytime. As a Phick fan i am waiting for the reunion. Not sure if it will happen, but I know alot of Phick fans would love it. And there is one thing we know, and it is that Nick and Phyllis loves each other.

I didn’t read the entire article because I got bored with the part I did read. I have never like the character of Phyllis or Brooke on Bold and Beautiful. The only thing these two bimbo’s have in common with Nick and Ridge are sex. Neither of the bozo’s show any respect for them because they never had too. And Phyllis and Deacon dumpster drive was gross beyond words. Just as bad as Brooke’s wall banger with another daughter’s boyfriend. Both of these bimbo’s are way too old for this trashy behavior.

This is a great interview. Michelle Stafford is the most natural actress in daytime. She can make any actor look hot. It would have been great to see a triangle with Nick and Ronan. Too bad he had to leave. I love her with Joshua so I’m happy where their characters are heading right now. I can’t wait to see the scenes on Monday. Michelle is always so humble about her performance. It is just another reason she is easy to love.

Michael, once again you did it – GREAT JOB!!! What a beautiful interview with Michelle, my favourite actress!! I just love her and her candor…that is all.

She plays my favourite character so well and the reason why I enjoy watching Phyllis. She makes Phyllis so real to a lot of us, flawed and human. And she has such a wonderful take on her character – I always enjoy listening, or reading what she says about Phyllis.

Her onscreen chemistry with Jessica Collins is absolutely terrific and the Phyllis/Avery relationship has become one of my second favourite to watch, behind Phick. Though I didn’t like the Nick/Avery thing..bad move by the writers but it’s a soap lol.

I am going to disagree with Michelle on something though and this will be a first ever lol. I did not enjoy the relationship with Ronan at all…..it came out of nowhere and the relationship came off as self-gratification without any depth. If they were supposed to be falling in love, I sure as heck didn’t buy it or feel it. Yes, they had chemistry between the characters but heck I have chemistry with my shampoo. So that doesn’t really mean anything. For me, the relationship came off as extremely forced and not genuine, and appeared as if they were trying too hard. Onscreen it did not come off as organic but gluttonous in a sleazy way. There is something to be said about having scenes be genuine.

I love the Phick relationship just for the fact that they love each other and they can’t quite get it together but they are always trying to—that’s the beauty of it. I enjoy watching Michelle and Joshua play that very much. The genuineness of a scene that I mentioned earlier is always there with Phick even when the s/l stinks. So my Phick heart wants them to take a chance and try again………………BUT NOT YET. I love that the writers have Phyllis be wary of Nick…it is the right call.

And I am with Michelle on this one….I so want to see Phyllis snap a bit too LOL!!!

What a great interview. Michelle is always so interesting and fun. Thank you.

Sauza replied February 26th, 2012 at 2:19 am

Agree with your comments. I agree I did not see Phyllis & Ronan falling in love. Maybe scenes were cut, but I just saw Phyllis using Ronan to get over Nick & Ronan using Phyllis to get over Chloe.

I’ve can’t say I’m a die-hard Phick fan, but I love the complexity MS’s acting gives to that relationship. All the complexities & issues MS perceives in the Nick/Phyllis relationship really come through in her acting. Phyllis is such a soapy, interesting character, and that is SO much due to MS’s acting talents.

The only thing I am confused about is shenagians with Sharon? I beleive her character and Nick abandoned Sharon with Cassies death and Daniel in the middle of it so Ms. Stafford you are confused ! Personally I think she looks weak when she is paired with JM I don’t care I just wish Sharon would tell them all to go fish. And Ms. Stafford is much better on screen then stalking someone first Daniel, Michael and now Nick! Oh how I loved the days of her independence she was better suited with Jack.

I believe if I am reading the actress response and your confusion stems from how the “Phick ” pairing began over 6 years ago.

I think every fan knows the story by now, I think Michelle speaking for her character is of course wary and hesitant when it comes to the Nick/Sharon dynamics. He cheated on get with Sharon and got her pregnant, the same thing that happened with Sharon and Nick.

I personally enjoy the dynamics with Joshua and Michelle, the actors have great chemistry That leaps off the screen. I adore the “Phick relationship” because of it’s intensity and rawness.

I also enjoy the Jack pairing, I like them as Ex’s but bonded by their past.

Like Jim, I did not get the Ronan relationship, but it would have been interesting to see a triangle.

I don’t understand the stalking of Danny not “Daniel” comment, this happened over 15 years ago and she eventually paid for it by losing custody of her child and it would take years for a reunion. Phyllis and Michael a different story (?)

Stalking of Nick..this one is new. I never saw it..so I cannot comment.

I think Phyllis has always been independent she has been that and more. She has never played the lady of the Manor. She has always worked and supported self. Her weakness that some see is her because of get love for Nick we are finally seeing as we get her backstory from the story nuggets.

Sharon abandoned Nick first by having an emotional affair with Brad before Nick came home with Daniel in custody for Cassie’s death. Phyllis was not ever responsible for Sharon’s “peace of mind”, Nick and Sharon could not mourn Cassie together, by the time Nick came home Sharon was no longer mourning.

Phyllis and Nick (before Paris) completed each other, they were pure magic. MAB for me ruined that with the whole Paris debacle and the stupid carousel crap and the using of Cassie as foreplay for SHICK. I am no longer a Nick fan, and will not be until he admits to both Phyllis and Sharon that he was wrong for the SHICK affair and leaving Phyllis and Summer for a re-do on SHICK that sucked.

Phyllis never stalked Daniel, her son, if you mean Danny, she fell in love with him and wanted the best father possible for the baby she was carrying, the new information we have about “George” makes the whole “Danny” thing make more sense! The Phyllis and Michael relationship then is not the same as the relationship now, since MS was not playing Phyllis at the time, I get how she plays the relationship, it is a part of their past but it does not define them now. AS for “stalking” Nick, I think you have it backwards, Nick stalked Phyllis during the affair, after Nick and Sharon mutually decided to divorce it was Nick that stalked Phyllis and it was Nick that showed up at her penthouse with a rolling suitcase, not the other way around.

Never was a Phyllis and Jack fan, he can never love anyone more then he hates Victor.

Right. tricking someone with a baby is love alright. Phyllis is and has always been a lying, scheming strumpet and I really don’t know what to make of people who defend or minimize the bad things she’s done. She broke up Christine and Danny’s marriage with a lie. How do you excuse that? How do you justify it? “She wanted the best father possible for the baby she was carrying.” Really? So you trap a man because you’re in love with him? GMAFB!

I can totally appreciate when an actor has to sell their story and even defend the actions of their character, but I’m a bit disappointed in you Mr. Fairman that you don’t come out swinging a bit more. How about calling it like it is? None of this with Phyllis confronting her father makes sense. I respect that Ms. Stafford acknowledged that it is a total rewrite of her character’s history and that is why I have not enjoyed it at all. Why does it need to be rewritten? Is Phyllis being whitewashed for some purpose? To be better suited to Nick? Why can’t she just be an insecure woman with issues? It’s hypocritical of her character to blame all of her own criminal choices on the behavior of her father and it makes me cringe as I’m sure it did other fans. How would putting her own father in prison then result in her doing the things Phyllis had done? It makes no sense and has been a total fail for this character. I would agree with Ms. Stafford though that she had much better chemistry with Jeff Branson. Do I dare infer that she is diplomatically implying she herself is tired of it Phick too? Not all of the Phyllis fans enjoy phick. The romance with Ronan however seemed real and it could have been the first relationship she had that was all hers, something she desperately needs. It seemed real and I do believe his character is the better match for Phyllis. I would also disagree on the shenanigans comment regarding Sharon. Let’s not forget how phick started which is exactly why the relationship is bitter. Phyllis is second best with Nick and he’ll never commit 100% to either woman. Bring back Jeff Branson or a new man. Like Sharon, it’s time for Phyllis to move on from the immature waffling Nick.

what “whitewashing” Phyllis is still PHYLLIS, she knows what she has done in the past, I doubt she has forgotten about the attempt to mow down that dastardly inept bug! to me, that is the only so called “crime” I have SEEN Phyllis commit!

The PHICK affair last 3 months and was over for 5 months with absolutely no sex until after Nick and Sharon mutually decided to divorce. The PHICK relationship began that night Nick came knocking on her door with his rolling suitcase. And don’t forget Sharon was having wet dreams of a life with her lover BIL Brad at that time, she assumed as soon as she got rid of Nick, Brad would leave Victoria!

I will never say Phyllis was “second best” for Nick, she was the best thing for him and with him before MAB tried to channel her inner Bill Bell, which failed on all storyline fronts (JIll as Katherine’s daughter/not Katherine’s daughter, Victor and Ashley, Nikki and the bottle, the Silver Chipmunk, Michael’s father and new sister, and yes the SHICK re-do and the so called prophecy child.

I LOVE Michelle & Phyllis, but I don’t think she has much to worry about regarding people thinking she and Jeff Branson were actually “banging.” Michelle & Jeff are both beautiful & sexy, but those Ronan & Phyllis hook-ups were trying so hard to be sexy & real that they were anything but. That pairing was SO rushed & forced & TRY-hard that they were almost embarrassingly bad to me. I DON’T blame that on the actors but rather the cheesy, plot-point writing. Nonetheless–rest assured Michelle, I didn’t think from your scenes with JB’s Ronan that anything was going on with you guy’s in real life. Those scenes were just awkward.

I DO absolutely love how much thought MS puts into the motivation of her character. It really comes through in her acting (even when I may not agree with said motivation). And I love that she admits that sometimes the actors have to add motivation & inspiration into their characters when the writers haven’t. MS keeps Phyllis a viable, exciting soap character even when the writing fails her.

Michelle is amzing as always. I love her humility & straightforwardness. She is an asset to the show. Loved the interview! I also love the sister s/l. IMO though they ruined it with the quad. Avery is backburned now bc of it. Their relationship could’ve been more purely unraveled instead of having the character sleep with Nick only bc they wanted to try Phonan. I like JC but her character has weakend due to this quad.
As for Phick, they are constantly full of surprises. They are so controversial it’ s great to watch. Thats why they need no support from others, they do perfect on their own. Josh & Michelle bring a trmendous pairing on screen with Phick. They are the future of Y&R & they damn sure have proved it.

I wanted to thank you Michael for Michelle’s interview. Well done. I must tell you I giggled non stop at her banging reference. As always she is re-freshing and insightful. As a Phick fan I do hope I get that story.

I love how honest MS always is in her interviews. She knows the character she plays, that is for sure. I cannot say I am a fan of blatant rewrites of a characters history but I will give it a go and see where this one takes me.

I am hoping Nick and Phyllis will utlimately get it together. I am enjoying where they are at right now as too much has happened. It needs to build. I love that Phyllis is hesitant.

Great interview Michael thanks ! Michelle Stafford is my favorite actress , i love how she portrayed Phyllis, you always feel Phyllis emotion. Phick is my Favorite Couple on daytime , Nick and Phyllis are Magic together i hope they do reunite this time , i love the chemistry Michelle Stafford share with Josh Morrow they are Phenomenal together . i also love the Phyllis Avery dynamic , i think Michelle Stafford and Jessica Collins chemistry is absolutely one of the best i have ever see

Great interview! Phyllis and Ronan are my favorite Phyllis pairing. In fact, they are my favorite pairing ever on Y&R. In the short amount of time they were together, they slayed. Jeff Branson brought out so much in Michelle. Usually, it’s all about what Michelle brings out of other actors but with “Phonan”, they were both at their best and made the other even more incredible. I have never seen a couple that fit every criteria as amazingly as they did. They connected sexually, emotionally, visually, acting-wise. Just an awesome duo. I love that Michelle continues to state the obvious: that Phyllis was in love with Ronan. That is definitely how it played on screen. Phyllis never glowed as much as she did with Ronan. Michelle was lit from inside when she was around Ronan. I love them and I will be ecstatic if Jeff returns so Phyllis can be that way again. Love, love, love how they created such a remarkable pairing and really collaborated to make it so special. Kudos.

What an awesome interview. Thanks Michael. She is so warm and sincere and so funny. Michelle is my fave actor on Y&R and Phyllis is my all time fave character ever.. she has it all. I loved Phick in the beginning but hated how MAB destroyed the, then I totally fell for Phonan but now JB is gone and I am sad.,.. not feeling phick again.. Nick still has way too much making up to do.

There was zero evidence to back up the claim that Phyllis or Ronan were falling in love with each other. It was nothing more than sleazy random forced trashy bootycalls cause she was pissed at Nick and he got the brushoff from Chloe. The only falling they did was on the top of a desk, floor, or a bed. There was a no chance of this brief fling ending up being something real for many reasons but most of all Phyllis will never stop loving Nick. The entire thing was based on sex with a young horny man who needed a distraction from the murder case and a older angry woman who only went to him cause of something Nick did with Avery that ticked her off.

I totally agree with most of this statement,Racheebee, I saw absolutely no way that they would have stayed together, Phyliss is a user, she even said so to Nick ,she called Ronan a diversion, is that what she calls falling for him , Putting Ronan with her was a major major mistake, Love Jeff though ,hope he does come back ,but not to be with Phyliss . She is a great actress though. If JB does come back don’t put him with her. More back story needs to be told with him,and a connection with Nina,even he wanted that.

Great interviews Michael. i love Michelle Stafford she is my favorite actress on daytime tv. Phick is my favorite couple on daytime tv , i hope they do reunite this time ,they light up my screen everytime they are on

What a great interview. I just love Michelle. She is always interesting and fun. And I just adore Phick. Looking forward to their reunion. But I love any story Michelle is in. She is so talented. Y&R would never be the same without her.

I have just watched the episodes and I hate MAB no way would the Phyllis we know have issues over a Fathers ponzzi scheme when she was just a kid! And now we are gearing up for killing Daisy who cares Blah,Blah,Blah. Why do these women need men to make their life she MAB has ruined the character of Sharon and now Phyllis. And fellow readers I am discussing the characters not attacking the actors. You got that!!!

Has anyone else noticed that Phyllis repeats her lines at least twice & sometimes 3 or 4 times & a lot of times repeats back the lines of the actor she is speaking to? This drives me nuts. Yesterday during a scene with Daniel he said “I am an adult”-she said “if you are such an adult, an adult, such an adult” “if you are such an adult” She’ll say, “wait” 4 or 5 times & for example Nick could say “I just saw Sharon” she’ll say “you just saw Sharon, Sharon, you just saw Sharon, I can’t believe you just saw Sharon” & on & on. To Daisy-”do you know how to be a mother, do you know how to be a mother” like she is just stuck or something. I do not like this at all & wonder if they write her that way or is this just something she does thinking WHAT? Very annoying.

love Michelle Stafford! She is sooo awesome in this role, I don’t care if she is being sneaky or up front (as Phyliss) she is one character that I will root for no matter what. Loved her with JB but since he left, I think Phyliss should get a new guy with not ties to anyone in GC! Great interview Mr. Fairman!

great interview but WTF with this ‘banging’ business ? Hey Michelle Stafford..people can watch porn if they want to watch actors banging each others on-screen..what about great acting and deep connection about emotional issues between the characters ? geeezzz i mean i am not prude but come on banging is not acting otherwise porn stars would have oscars right now..lol no wonder soaps are mocked for their so called soft porn scenes..reality check it is not interesting guys and can be gross when forced with a no real chemistry ‘we try too hard to be sexy together’ kind of way and it happens often on daytime soaps..
Michelle, talk to your writers to write interesting character-driven scenes for you not some silly nasty ‘banging’ scenes..lol

I wish the writers would just leave Phick dead and buried once and for all. They were not a believeable couple “in love” from the start and I still don’t see it. I think Nick just looks like a tool when he’s in scenes with Phyllis. I think the writers just need to let Phyllis and Nick move on and just co-parent Summer. That’s all. Sorry, but I just don’t like anything about Phyllis and her self-serving, self-absorbed, self-righteous attitutde. The character is eating the show and she’s making it unwatcheable for me. JMO.